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When my mother passed away, she gave each of us one last gift. Upon contacting the local funeral home, we found that she has already planned out every detail in advance. From the memorial service to the choice of casket and shroud, she has arranged for everything well before she passed away. All we had to do was look over the obituary and then leave things in the capable hands of the funeral director.
I've since done my own advance planning. If you would like some ideas on how to do the same, let's talk. I can promise you that choosing to make all the plans in advance with one of the local funeral homes will be one of the kindest things you could do for your loved ones.

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Losing a loved one can be difficult, but many families find that the financial stress associated with paying for a funeral can make matters even worse. With the average cost of a funeral ranging between $7,000 and $10,000, finding ways to conserve money is important.

Here are three ways you can save money on funeral expenses in the future.

1. Find ways to save money on a casket.

For many years it was standard industry practice to mark up the price of caskets by as much as 700% over wholesale. While caskets are now billed separately from other funeral expenses, they can still be quite costly. Finding ways to save money on a casket purchase is a great way to reduce the overall cost of funeral expenses.

Many people think that caskets cannot be purchased from private sellers. As of 2014, the only state to ban the private sale of caskets was Oklahoma. Buying a casket from a local artisan could help you get an affordable vessel for your loved one's final resting place.

2. Forego printed funeral programs.

In the past, funeral programs were often printed to inform people of the funeral schedule and acknowledge pall bearers. The cost of printing funeral programs can range anywhere from $90 to $300 for 100 programs.

Since most people have access to cell phones with Internet connectivity, you can reduce funeral expenses by opting to provide a digital funeral program rather than printed copies. Provide a web address where the program is hosted, and allow funeral guests to download the program if they so desire. Eliminating printed funeral programs from your budget will allow you to avoid paying for a product that most people will discard.

3. Consider cremation as a more affordable alternative.

If your loved one was not opposed to being cremated, choosing this option when planning a funeral can be a great way to reduce expenses. The average cost of cremation services handled through a professional funeral home ranges from $2,000 to $4,000.

These costs are significantly less than the average cost of a traditional embalming. Making the choice to invest in cremation can not only reduce processing costs, it also allows you to invest in a smaller, more affordable burial plot.

Avoiding financial hardship following the death of a loved one is important. By taking the time to consider purchasing a casket from a private seller, eliminating printed programs, and choosing cremation, you will be able to reduce the amount of money spent on funerals in the future. Contact a company like Parsippany Funeral Home Inc for more information.